Jack checked his watch and continued pacing the length of Lady Rufflebum’s immense drawing room at her estate in Bellehaven Bay. He and his grandmother had arrived at the breathtaking seaside resort hours ago. Guests had trickled in throughout the day, but now it was almost time for afternoon tea—and still there’d been no sign of Eva.
“I’m certain she’ll arrive soon,” his grandmother said from the settee where she perused the gossip pages.
“Who?” he asked, playing dumb.
“Miss Tiding, of course.” She set down the newspaper and patted the seat cushion beside her. “Come, sit. There are a few matters we need to discuss, and since we have the room to ourselves, now is as good a time as any.”
Alarm bells rang inside his head, but he strolled to the settee and joined her. “What’s on your mind, Grandmama?”
“Your father,” she said bluntly, “and your future.”
The mention of his estranged father caused a familiar ache in Jack’s chest. “I thought you said he was in good health. Has something happened?”
“No, my dear boy.” She gave his arm an affectionate squeeze. “You know how he is. Your father is as fit as can be—physically. He simply refuses to leave Northcott Manor. He says the house in Town holds too many bad memories, but he asks about you often. I read him the letters that you write to me, and he listens raptly—as though he’s savoring every word.”
“I’m relieved to hear he’s well,” Jack said truthfully. But a pang of resentment niggled at the back of his neck. He understood the depths of his father’s pain, but he couldn’t understand why he’d allowed those wounds to eclipse the bond between them. “Why are you concerned about him?”
His grandmother smiled wistfully, and with her bright blue eyes and sunny yellow dress she looked decades younger than her seventy years. “I worry that his limitations have impacted you. He hasn’t been the father you deserve.”
Jack stiffened. “He’s done the best he can.”
“I believe that’s true,” she said gently. “But sometimes our best isn’t enough.”
“You needn’t worry about me, Grandmama. I’ve been on my own for most of my life and have managed just fine.”
“You’re different from him, you know,” she said, thoughtful. “Made of stronger stuff. It’s time for you to start a new chapter in our family’s story. Turn the page and don’t look back, Jack.”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean,” he said warily.
“You’ve been stuck—as surely as a carriage with a broken axle. But with a few repairs, you’ll be set to rights and ready to roll onward. Good things lie ahead—happiness, laughter … even love.”
“You’re talking about Eva.” He felt a niggle of guilt between his shoulder blades. “You like her?”
“Of course I do. And I can see the connection between you.”
“You can?”
“Plain as day.” His grandmother sounded so certain he almost believed it. “But she’s not going to wait forever—especially if you insist on wearing a scowl all the time. You must tell her how you feel.”
He dragged a hand through his hair. “I don’t know how I feel.”
“Balderdash,” she scoffed. “You know what’s in your heart. Propose to her before the end of the house party. Matilda is hosting a ball on Christmas Eve—it will be the perfect time to make an announcement.”
Jack’s palms turned clammy. “Even if I proposed and she accepted, she’s planning to return home before the ball.”
“Convince her to stay,” his grandmother said with a shrug.
“I haven’t spoken to her father yet,” Jack said, clearly grasping at straws.
“Write to him,” she said slowly, as though he were thick-headed. “Do what you must to move forward and embrace your future.”
Damn it. He’d taken this farce too far. His grandmother truly believed he was going to propose, and the genuine hope on her face gutted him. He had to tell her the truth now—before she grew more attached to Eva.
“About Eva…,” he began.
“Oh, look!” she exclaimed, pointing out the window overlooking the front drive. “She and Miss Bailey have arrived at last. Let’s go welcome them, shall we?”
Jack’s confession withered on his tongue, lost in the flurry of greetings that ensued.
Lady Rufflebum met the newcomers in the main hall and instructed a footman to carry their bags upstairs to their room while Jack hung back, watching.
Eva’s cheeks were pink with excitement. “Bellehaven Bay is beautiful,” she said, slipping off her fur-lined gloves. “The cliffs overlooking the ocean, the sandy white beaches … Even from the carriage, they took my breath away.”
Jack studied her, looking past her shining green eyes and perfectly kissable lips. He searched for a clue that she was acting, dutifully playing the part of an enthused house party guest. But she seemed genuinely pleased. Happy even. He wanted to poke her in the ribs and remind her that this wasn’t some sort of holiday. She was there to fulfill her end of the deal.
Unless … unless something had changed.
“This is my first visit to the seaside as well,” said Laurel. “It must be quite a bustling place in the summer.”
“Yes, indeed,” Lady Rufflebum replied. “But the winter months have a special sort of charm, too. There’s a sense of mystery and magic when you’re on the beach all alone.”
“I can imagine,” Laurel breathed.
“And there are plenty of entertainments in Town as well,” said his grandmother. “Lovely shops, lively taverns, and a darling tearoom.”
“I can’t wait to explore,” Eva announced.
Jack cleared his throat, drawing all eyes. “Miss Tiding, perhaps you’ll permit me to show you around the grounds once you’ve settled in.”
Lady Rufflebum gasped. “She hasn’t yet removed her cloak or had a proper cup of tea, Frostbough.”
His grandmother chuckled. “I daresay little harm can come from a pre-dinner stroll—if Miss Tiding is so inclined.”
“Of course.” Eva turned to her aunt. “Laurel, will you join us?”
Miss Bailey’s gaze flicked to his grandmother’s face, then back to Eva’s. “I think I’ll stay here and unpack our things. Unless you’d rather I…?”
“They’ll be fine,” his grandmother chimed in, her tone settling the matter once and for all.
A half hour later Jack met Eva met in the entrance hall. They slipped out the front door into the chilly, overcast afternoon and headed for Lady Rufflebum’s garden.
He’d walked down the same path earlier that morning, but it seemed different now that he saw it through Eva’s eyes. Tall green shrubs stood at attention on either side of a winding pebbled path, while a canopy of leafless tree branches formed a lattice overhead.
“I feel as though we’ve sneaked into one of Grimms’ fairy tales.” She shot him a sideways glance. “I do hope you’re not planning to feed me to the wolves—or perhaps a cunning witch.”
“No,” he said blithely. “I need you, remember?”
“That’s right—you do,” she said smugly. “You needn’t worry, though. I don’t think your grandmother is the least bit suspicious. All has gone according to plan.”
Jack grunted. Maybe all was going according to plan for Eva. She probably hadn’t missed him over the last two weeks. Probably hadn’t lain awake at night thinking about their encounter in the library.
“Speaking of our plan, I think it’s time we devised an exit strategy,” he said.
She slipped a hand into the crook of his arm and arched a brow at him, coy. “Is that how spies talk? I rather like the sound of it.”
If it were any woman but Eva, he’d think she was flirting with him. “You’ve almost fulfilled your side of the bargain,” he said. “We need to figure out how this fake relationship will end.”
“I’ve only just arrived,” she said. “Must we concern ourselves with staging a jilting already?”
“My grandmother is expecting us to announce our engagement on Christmas Eve,” he admitted.
“Oh.”
He waved a hand at a marble bench nestled between some bushes beside the path. “Shall we sit?”
She nodded and settled herself on the smooth seat, her expression thoughtful. “I must confess, I never dreamed our pretend relationship would become so…”
Jack held his breath, hoping she’d say real.
“… involved.”
Damn. “Nor did I. My grandmother likes you. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”
“I like her, too,” Eva said. “Lying to her and my father has been the most difficult thing about this ruse. They’re bound to be devastated when we break things off. How can we soften the blow?”
“Maybe we should give the impression that we’ve had a row. Act chilly and distant when we’re around others. That way, when you leave Bellehaven and return home for Christmas no one will be surprised by the lack of an engagement.”
“Yes, I can see how that would be best,” she said, sounding oddly disappointed.
“Unless you have another suggestion?”
“No. Although I’d rather hoped that, as long as we were having a fake relationship, we might continue to … enjoy each other’s company.”
“In what way?” he asked warily.
“You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?” She threw up her hands, frustrated. “Very well. I’d hoped we could continue to enjoy each other … physically.”
“Physically,” he repeated dumbly.
“As we did in the library alcove,” she clarified.
Holy hell. It took every ounce of restraint he had not to haul her on top of him and plunder her mouth.
“However,” she continued, “I can see how passionate kisses and late-night rendezvous might complicate matters. Perhaps it’s best if we stick to your plan.”
“No, no,” he said quickly. “We’ll do it your way—if you’re sure.”
“I’ve had some time to think about it. And I’m sure. This might be my only opportunity to feel the rush of passion, and, based on my limited experience, you and I seem to suit—at least in that respect.” She glanced up at him from beneath a thick fringe of lashes. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
Jack felt his jaw hanging open like a toy soldier’s with a broken hinge. He quickly shut his mouth and did his best to collect his wits, which seemed to have scattered to the four corners of the earth. “Yes,” he stammered. “I’d agree we are physically compatible.” More than he’d ever been with anyone else. “But I disagree with what you said at the start—that this might be your only chance for passion. You’re young and lovely, and you have your whole life ahead of you.”
“Careful, my lord—that almost sounded like a compliment,” she retorted. “You’ll turn my head.”
“That was a compliment, damn it.” He frowned. “Why would you deprive yourself of pleasure? Unless you’re planning to enter a convent?”
“No, but I don’t intend to marry, and I wouldn’t be comfortable making this sort of an arrangement with just anyone. I trust you. You’re a known quantity, Jack.” Her eyes grew dark and sultry. “I’ve seen what lies beneath your shirt … and I find myself wanting more.”
Jesus. “Let me see if I understand this. You want us to have an affair for the duration of the house party?”
“Correct,” she said firmly. “When we’re in the company of others, we’ll act a bit cool—as though we’ve had a disagreement. But behind closed doors, we may do … whatever we want to.”
Damn, but there was a lot he wanted to do. “I have no objection to that,” he choked out.
“Laurel and I will plan to return to Town no later than the morning of Christmas Eve. We’ll let your grandmother down as gently as possible but also make it abundantly clear that you and I have discovered we are quite incompatible and will never marry.”
“And that will be it?” he said, disbelieving.
“Yes,” she said simply. As if it were all as straightforward as the dinner menu. “You’ll give me the watch, and we’ll go our separate ways.”
“I’ve never done anything like this before,” he said.
Eva leaned in and captured his mouth in a kiss that would have brought him to his knees if he weren’t sitting. “Then it shall be an adventure for both of us,” she murmured against his cheek.
“Come to my room tonight?”
“I will if I can.” She sighed wistfully. “First, we must survive dinner with a houseful of guests. I haven’t even met anyone yet.”
“It won’t be so terrible. I’ll introduce you to my friend Will. He’s a decent sort.”
“You have a friend?” she quipped. “Does he have horns and cloven feet?”
Jack shook his head. “Shockingly, no. He’s hopelessly good-natured. We’ve been friends since Eton.”
“I look forward to meeting him,” she said, sounding curious. “But mostly I look forward to our assignation, later.”
“I’ll be waiting, my ardent angel.” He slid a hand into her cloak and caressed the sensitive spot at the base of her spine. “I’ll be waiting.”